Fluid-pressure regulator



(No Model.) a Shets-Sheet 1.

D. 'J. & S. PARMER. FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 592,197. Patented-Oct. 19,1897.

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A TTOHNEKS (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. D. J. & S. FARMEB.

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR. No; 592,197. Patented Oct. 19,1897.

WITNESSES 4 IN VE N TO/LS 0 5 W DM L Jk ATTORNEY-5 (No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet D. J. & S. FARMER. FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 592,197. Patented Oct. 19,1897;

ATEN'I FFTEQ DAVID J. FARMEB. AND SAMUEL FARMER, OF ELIZABETH, NEWJERSEY.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,197, datedOctober 19,1897.

1 Application filed August 27, 1896. Serial No. 604,083. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: H j Be it known that we, DAVID J. FARMER andSAMUEL FARMER, citizens of the United States, and residents ofElizabeth, county of Union,and State of New J ersey,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gas-Governors, of.which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar lettersof reference indicate corresponding parts.

Our invention relates to improvements in differential automaticgas-governors adapted to be operated by liquid weight and forcontrolling the supply of gas to the mains, the object thereof being toprovide a device of this character which is serviceable and operativeunder all conditions of pressure; furthermore, to supply an apparatusadaptedfor obviating the difficulties in adjustment heretofore met within devices of this character.

- A further object is to supply a governor which is susceptible ofdifferential adj ustment to meet the varied'requirements of gas plantsand which will efflciently act under conditions of maximum as well asminimum pressure. p

In automatic governors where fluid weight is employed and transferredfrom one vessel to another for change of pressure, much difficulty hasbeen heretofore experienced in adjusting the fluid weight to insureprompt automatic change of pressure. In our improved governor promptautomatic change of pressure is brought about partly by means of anadjustable plunger located within the fluidreceptacle and partly bymeans of a compound-valve seat, as will be hereinafter fully described,and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a vertical sec tional elevation of the governor. Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the upper portion thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe governor, illustrating a slightly-modified form thereof. Fig. 4 is adiagram in section of the valve and the fluid receptacles, illustratingthe relative position of the parts when the valve is open; and Fig. 5 isa similar view with the valve closed.

In the practice of our invention the body I .or bas e ofthe governorcomprises a preferably 'globe-shaped'casing A, through which the gas isadapted to pass from a source of supply to the street-mains. Thecompound-valve seat forming part of our invention is located centrallyof this said casing and gas is supplied thereto through the medium ofthe flanged inlet A and passes therefrom into the mains through theflanged outlet A, these said two openings being adapted for attachmentto pipes leading, respectively, from the source of supply and to themains.

The compound valve comprises two valves B and B, mounted upon a verticalrod C and operated within downWardly-proj ectin g seats D, which form anintegral part of the casing A. Surrounding these seats are slidingcollars E, adapted for adjustment vertically upon the seats for thepurpose of controlling the supply of gas therethrough, whereby thevalves may be caused to travel downwardly to variable distances beforethe maximum supply of gas is allowed to pass into the mains from thesource of supply, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Projecting upwardly and centrally from the upper wall of the casing A isa tube F, through which the valve rod or stem 0 passes. Surrounding thissaid tubular projection F is a' cock H is tapped into the chamber F forthe purpose of drawing off any overflow of water or other liquid adaptedfor filling the tank G.

Tapped into the casing A is a tube a, which communicates with a globevalve a, and leading from this said valve into the'chamber F is a tubeor pipe a whereby gas may pass from the main into the casing A andthence through these said pipes into the chamber F for operating a floatI, which is mounted upon the valve-stem C. This said float iscylindrical in shape and the lower end thereof is open, whereby when thetank G is filled with water or other suitable fluid matter an effectualseal for the. gas is provided. For the purpose of lubricating thevalve-stern C an oil-tube i is led through the head of the float I.

Securely fitted to the upper edge of the tank G is a dome or cover G andthe operative mechanism of the governor is mounted thereon. This saidmechanism comprises, primarily, fluid-receptacles J and J, which saidreceptacles are designated as weight vessels and are adapted to receivethe mereuryj or other fluid matter adapted for operating the device, aswill be' hereinafter fully described. Of these said fluid-weightvessels,

the centrally located vessel J is mounted upon the valve-stem G, and thevessels J are suspended from cross-rods 7c, forming part of theoscillating wheels K, which said wheels are mounted upon shafts Kthrough the medium of antifriction-rollers 76, whereby the device can beoperated with a minimum of friction. These said parts are all locatedbetween uprights L, which are securely mou nted upon the dome G2 of thetank G.

The vessels J are preferably closed at each end, and they are suspendedfrom the crossrods k by means of slotted hangers M and adjusting-screwsM, which said screws are threaded through the head portions of thehangers and bear against the cross-rods 7; for the purpose of verticallyadjusting the vessels J. The liquid-weight vessel J is open at its upperend and has an adjustable plunger J 2 located therein. This said plungeris adjustably secured to the valve-stem O by any suitable means, butpreferably by means of a nutj, which engages with a thread j of thevalve-stem C. This said nut engages loosely with an aperture in the headof the plunger, whereby the said plunger can be adjusted verticallywithout having rotary motion imparted thereto. The said vessels J and Jare connected to each other by means of flexible tubes N, and these saidtubes are supplied with stop-cocks n. for controlling the flow of fluidwhen desirable.

As a means for supporting the valve-stem and its connected parts, avertically-adjustable nutc engages therewith. This said nut is providedwith projecting arms 0, which bear upon antifriction-rollers c mountedupon cross-rods secured to the wheels K. The upper end of the valve-stemO is provided with a cup-shaped receptacle C, adapted to receive weightsfor balancing and ad- I j usting the apparatus. \Veight receptacles ortroughs O are also suspended from the wheels K by means of rods 0 for asimilar purpose.

As a means for setting or properly adjusting the fluid matter within thefluid-receptacles, these said receptacles are each provided upon theirbottom surfaces with projections j adapted for engagement with astraightedge, as will be hereinafter described.

In Figs. 1, 2, I, and 5 of the drawings we have illustrated but threefluid-weightreceptacles, but we do not confine ourselves to the specificnumber thereof. For instance, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings,two centrally-located vessels J 3 are used, and their plungers J areoperated for vertical adjustment through the medium of screws J whichare threaded through the head j", covering the vessels.

In the operation of the governor, the movement of the valves is effectedor actuated by the float I, which is controlled by the pressure in theservice-mains through the pipes a and a In Fig. 1 the governor is shownin position for day service, or when the minimum of gas is being passedthrough the valves to the street. It will be observed that the vessels Jare below the vessel J and they contain all the fluid and sustain thevalves B and B in their upward position, whereby a minimum supply of gasis supplied to the street-mains.

\Vhen consumption increases or there is a call for more gas in thedistrict, the pressure is reduced in the mains, which causes the float Ito descend by gravity. The weight fluid in the vessels J then begins toflow from the said vessels to the vessel J, and a gradual change ofweight of the vessel J causes the valves to descend, whereby anincreased voland the pressure therein is increased.

The collars E, surrounding the valve-seats D, may be set so as to causethe valves to drop slowly for either a short or long distance beforegiving out the full volume or maximum supply of gas, whereby full-weightpressure is not supplied to the mains until the valves are below thelower edges of the collars E, as clearly illustrated in the diagram Fig.4C, and all the weight fluid is transferred from the vessels J to thevessel J. The valve is then supplied with its maximum weight and fullmaximum pressure is delivered to the mains.

\Vhen the consumption is diminished and lights are being turned out inthe district, the float begins to rise by the back pressure in themains, and upward movement of the valves will be continued until themaximum pressure in the mains causes the valves to assume the positionillustrated in the diagram of Fig. 5, whereby the minimum supply of gasis permitted to enter the mains and the weight fluid is graduallytransferred. back to the vessels J.

In order that the advantages of our improvement may be betterunderstood, we will describe the method of putting the governor in toworking operation.

After the governor is set up and the working parts are in readiness, thevessels J are supplied with the proper weight of liquid that isnecessary to be transferred for change of pressure. The valve (4 is thenopened and the gas is passed through the governor to the street andafter allowing time for pressure in the mains to settle, as ascertainedby the gage. If the pressure maintained is too much for the minimum ofconsumption, shot or other weight is placed in the receptacles O, orweights may be secured to the rods 0 if desired. This weight is addeduntil the pressure is reume of gas is allowed to pass into the mainsduoed as required. After pressure settles,

giving out the minimum consumption, the governor is adjusted by placinga straightedge'on the projecting plate j of the vessel J and on a linewith the bottom of the vessel. The straight-edge in length extends tothe outer vessels J, which'said vessels are lowered or raised by theiradjusting-screws until the surface of .the fluid therein is on a levelwith the under side of the straight-edge, which represents the bottom ofthe plunger ve'ssel J When this is done, the governor is adjusted tominimum or day pressure. As soon as night pressure is on and the liquidis transferred from the'outer vessels to the inner vessel, the governoris giving out its maximum volume of pressure. The straight-edge is thenplaced on the projecting plates which extend from the vessels J and on aline with the bottom of said vessels. The liquid in thecentervessel isthen adjusted for the maximum pressure by the simple operation ofraising or lowering the plunger J 2 until the liquid is on a line withthe bottom of the straight-edge, and the full adjustment is madeaccurately for auto-' matic use the first night, and no furtheradjustment is necessary to meet the requirements of minimum and maximumpressure, and it will be observed that the preliminary andfinaladjustment is made when the governor reaches its maximum pressureon the first night.

The mechanism we have described for connecting and operating thefluid-weight vessels may be varied if found necessary without departingfrom the scope of our invention, and we do not confine ourselves toarrangement of the two outside liquid vessels J, as it is obvious thatone vessel may be made to encircle the plunger vessel J for carrying theliquid weight to be transferred to said plunger vessel.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An automatic gas-governor, comprising a plurality of fluid-weightvessels, and means for connecting them to each other and fortransferring the fluid weight, a valve, a projecting valve-seat and anadjustable collar thereon, the stem of the said valve having a floatthereon engaging with a tank adapted to contain water or other fluid forsealing the gas, and. a vertically-adj ustable plunger mounted on thevalve-stem for adj usting' the fluid weight, the said plunger locatedwithin one of the fluid vessels; and means for inclosing, supporting andmounting the said parts, for the purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic gas-governor, the combination of a valve andprojecting valve-seats,- the seats having sliding collars thereon forregulating the flow of gas, and a float and one or more fluid-weightvessels secured to the stem of the said valve, said vessels havingvertically-adjustable plungers therein for adjusting the fluid weight, aplurality of fluidweight vessels communicating with the other saidvessels and means for adj ustably operating them, a casing surroundingthe said valve and a tank inclosing the said float, substantially asshown and described.

3. A differential automatic gasgovernor comprising a body portion havingan inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, and downwardly-projectingvalve-seats therein, havingadjustable collars thereon, and a doublevalve for engagement with said seats and collars, and a valve-stem whichis suspended from friction-rollers located between two revoluble disksor wheels, said stem having a float secured thereto which is locatedwithin a tank for sealing the gas, said tank communicating with areceptacle which connects with the outlet portion of the said body, saidstem also having a fluid-weight vessel secured thereto with anadjustable plunger therein; and vertically-adjus'table fluid-weightvessels communicatin g with the other said weight vessel, these saidvessels being suspended between the said wheels which support thevalvestem, whereby the fluid-weight vessels will be alternately raisedor lowered for transferring the weight fluid and for governing thesupply of gas for the mains, substantially as and for the purpose shownand described.

4. In an automatic gas-governor, a fluidweight vessel having anadjustable plunger therein for raising and lowering the surface of thefluid weight, said vessel being secured to the valve-stem of agas-governor, combined with fluid-weight vessels for transferring andoperating the said parts, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

5. The combinationin an automatic gasgovernor of fluid-weight vesselshaving adj ustable plungers therein, secured to the valve-stem of thegovernor; with auxiliary fluid-weight vessels and means for supportingand adjusting them, substantially for the purpose shown and described.

6; The combination in a gas-governor, of a double valve and double-valveseats, said seats being vertically adjustable, the stem of the saidvalve having a float thereon, also a' fluid-weight vessel having anadjustable plunger therein, said vessel communicating with adjustablevessels for transferring the fluid weight; With a rock-shaft mechanismfor supporting and moving the said parts, substantially as and for thepurpose shown and described.

7. In an automatic gas-governor, a fluidweight vessel having anadjustable plunger therein for raising and lowering the surface of thefluid Weight, said vessel being connected to the valve-stem of agas-governor, combined with fluid-weight vessels for transferring thefluid weight, for the purpose shown and described.

8. The combination with a gas-governor, of projecting valve-seats, saidseats being provided with collars or casings surrounding saidvalve-seats, said collars adapted to be moved up and down on the seatsto regulate the flow of gas to the main, substantially as shown anddescribed.

9. In automatic governors where fluid weight is used and transferredfrom one vessel to another, means for adjusting said vessels in propervertical relation to each other, said means comprising plates projectingfrom the bottoms of said vessels, or their equivalents and adapted to beused as supports upon which to apply a straight-edge for adjusting thesame in any desired vertical relation to each other, as described andset forth.

10. In automatic governors where fluid weight is used and transferredfrom the ves-

